Opinions on June vs. Christmas week

[welovedisneyx4]

We used to go to DW in October, but it is getting harder to take the kids out of school and w/ DH now teaching, it is next to impossible.

I had been thinking of a mid to late June trip, knowing full well it will be very hot and crowded. I was planning 9 full days w/ a couple of rest days and 1/2 days.

However, I started thinking about Christmas week. We could still do the same # of days and take our time. It would be a few days before Christmas and the week after.

Will the Christmas crowds be a lot worse than in June? Would the cooler weather make up for any crowd difference? I know we can't guarantee the weather, but I feel pretty safe in thinking that it will be a bit cooler and the humidity shouldn't be such a problem. Last year we went at Thanksgiving and the worst crowds we found were on Friday after Thanksgiving (stayed away from the parks on Thanksgiving Day), but those were manageable. It was very slow the weekend before, but picked up each day as the week went on. The weather was great then.

So, any opinions on this would be appreciated. I'm thinking my family can handle the crowds more than the heat, but I'm just not sure how bad the Christmas crowds would be. (We would leave on December 30, so we wouldn't be there for New Years Eve.) Thank you!!

 

[Sabbie]

In my opinion.. cooler makes any crowds there are, a lot better. I will NEVER do a June trip, ever again. Blahh.

 

[DavidHobart]

The crowds between Christmas and New Years are the worst of the year...I've seen guidebooks that advise skipping the Magic Kingdom entirely during this time; however if yuo have some schedule flexibility the week before is a great time to go. Good luck!

 

[Devil_Dog99]

If you go before Christmas - get as much of the parks in before the 25th. On Christmas - go anywhere EXCEPT MK. From Christmas on, if you hit all the big rides you wanted before Christmas, you can judiciously use FP to do some repeat attractions.

DW and I go for the week before and the week after. As you can guess from above, we hit all the parks before Christmas. We learned the hard way to stay away from MK Dec 25. Epcot is much less crowded. Then we spend the week between Christmas and New Year's as FL tourists.

 

[TinksMagic54]

We're going a few days before Christmas and staying a few days after. I know the crowds will be heavier, but am also looking forward to the cooler temperatures. However, with our luck....there will be a heatwave. Our first trip, late September (can't remember the year), triple digit heat; our next trip in May -- again a mega heatwave -- next trip was end of June and humidity was raging....so this time we are trying December.

Just plan to go with the flow and not commando style and you will be fine.

 

[rkmassa]

Having done both times of the year, I would choose June. At least you will be able to enjoy the parks early, take a break and swim, and come back and enjoy the parks later in the evenings. Staying on property would give you EMHs. Christmas is just too crowded to enjoy the parks. Christmas is so crowded that you can barely move in the MK--my kids favorite park. The MK will close early due to capacity. Wall to wall people with long lines at most attractions and FPs that are gone early in the day, is not much fun. If you could do most of your days before Christmas, then I would choose Christmas. If you could only do a day or two before, then I would choose June and enjoy the pools and rest in the afternoon. I think the Ultimate Guide has the 24th and on at a 10 (1 to 10 scale with 10 most crowded). If you still decide to brave the crowds and go at Christmas, I would suggest buying a subscription to Tour Guide Mike. He will be able to tell you which park to be at on each day to avoid the crowds. We used his information for our last trip, and never saw a crowded park.

 

[welovedisneyx4]

Thanks for all the advice.

I will get TGM whenever we go again, I have used him on our past 2 trips and enjoy his information.

Any other comments?

 

[AStamm]

As a teacher who takes one week off from school every other year, we've done both June and Christmas trips. I personally preferred our Christmas trip two years ago. Being at WDW for the actual holidays was magical, although crowded. You're totally right about the weather being so much more manageable, though. We actually had to wear gloves and multiple layers two of the days, but it definitely tops being a sticky mess the minute you open the hotel door.

If you do Christmas, you're making the right decision about leaving on the 30th. NYE was absolutely jam-packed at MK. By 1:00 pm they weren't letting anyone else in and it was wall-to-wall people. We'll be at WDW this Christmas and have plans for Christmas Day and early NYE at AK--and will be on a plane heading home around 7 pm NYE.

 

[pezpam]

So much comes down to personal preference...... but if it was me, knowing that June and Christmas/NYE are both crazy-crowded, I'd opt for less heat. Being hot and sticky makes everything from crowds to rides to just walking around a touch less enjoyable than not being hot and sticky.

Plus, it'd give you a chance to experience a WDW Christmas. And if you hate it like mad, you pick another time to go next time around.

Hope you have a great trip, whenever you go!

 

[Nasus]

I think the weather would definitely be more tolerable in December. I would also be sure to check in while it is still value season, and not pay the holiday rates.
Susan

 

[dougsmom98]

My husband and I are both teachers and we have gone at Christmas and the end of June. I will never go back in June. I would do Christmas again with out thinking twice if those were my only two choices. Having said that, you absolutely need to plan on getting to the parks at opening over Christmas, do the rides you want, and then relax after the 2-3 hours and go with the flow. We did every possible thing that we wanted to over Christmas including the big ticket rides. I couldn't take the humidity in June, it was the most disgusting thing I ever encountered. We personally enjoy going over Presidents' Week. We get an entire week off up here in the northeast and I think it is the best time to go.

 

[Soichiro]

Christmas, by a long shot.

The long lines are offset by the stunning decorations.

 

[welovedisneyx4]

I think the weather would definitely be more tolerable in December. I would also be sure to check in while it is still value season, and not pay the holiday rates.
Susan

I hadn't thought about that, thanks. I'm sure DH and the kids could miss 1 day of school if need be.

I think December is sounding better and better. I know how bad it was this summer at Myrtle Beach. We were there during a heat wave (and "humidity wave" LOL!), and about the only way we could stand to be out during the day was to be in the pool or the ocean. The nights weren't much better.

 

[GSLand]

We went early June one year. I think we arrived June 8 or 9. The weather was wonderful. We stayed at BC so we had the lovely pool for afternoon rests and could walk to Epcot or MGM for evenings. All parks were open late.

December was too cold (couldn't enjoy pool) and too crowded.

 

[Soccer9208]

I have planned my trip so that we arrive on the 31st and leave Jan 6th. Will that time be as crowded as it is around Christmas time??
Thanks